Method and apparatus for making ply yarn



2,986,865 P S FOR MAKING PLY YAR www r11H/mmmwww/HmwwwMMM/ June 6, 1961 R. J. cLARKsoN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLY YARN Filed oct. 1o, 195e 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 .ATTORNEY June 6, 1961 R, J, CLARKSON 2,986,865

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLY YARN Filed Oct. lO, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mwm AT TORNEY June 6, 1961 R. J. cLARKsoN 2,986,865

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLY YARN Filed Oct. 10, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ff 74 i l H JZ ff BY/@MQM AITORNEY June 5, 1961 R. J. cLARKsoN 2,986,865

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLY YARN Filed Oct. l0, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY nited States Patent 2,986,865 METHD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLY YARN Robert J. Clarkson, innsboro, S.C., assigner to United States Rubber Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Oct. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 766,492 9 Claims. (Cl. 5758.3)

`incorporated herein in their entireties by this reference.

The machine for producing plied yarn shown in Patent 2,503,242 advances one yarn, in a rotating balloon, about a package containing a second yarn and to a plying point; simultaneously the yarn from the package Within the rotating balloon is advanced to the plying point at the 'same linear rate of speed as that at which the ballooning yarn is advanced to the plying point. At the plying point the two yarns are plied into two-ply yarn.

It is an object of this invention to provide an efficient method by which ply yarns can be manufactured from the yarns on a multiple end beam. It is a further object of this invention to provide novel apparatus for carrying out this method.

In accordance with this invention, a multiple end beam is creeled adjacent a yarn plying machine. The yarns thereon are led from the beam and divided into at least two groups. Each yarn from a rst of said groups is advanced as the external yarn to the plying point of a yarn plying spindle on the machine. At the same time, yarn from a single end internal package, i.e., a package within a rotating balloon of the external yarn, is also advanced to the plying point with each external yarn. And the internal yarn and the external yarn are plied into twoply yarn at the plying point in the manner disclosed in the above identified patents.

At the same time, the yarns in the second group of yarns from the multiple end beam are advanced to individual winding stations where these yarns are wound into single end packages suitable for use as the internal package of the yarn plying machine disclosed in the above identied patents.

When the internal package of the yarn plying machine must be re-creeled, as for example when the inner package is exhausted, a package wound from a yarn in the second group is creeled on the spindle of the plying machine to be used as the inner package. In this manner, all of the yarns from the beam are plied into ply yarn, and the plying machine is supplied entirely from yarns on multiple end beams.

For a better understanding of the nature of this invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a multiple end beam creeled for use in this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a continuation of FIG. l, and shows in front elevation apparatus for dividing the yarns from the beam into two groups for use as contemplated in this invention; FIG. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 with some duplicate parts omitted;

FIG. 5 is a continuation of FIG. 3 `and is a partially schematic front elevation of yarn using apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a partially schematic View along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 and shows a single end package winding station;

FIG. 7 is a partial plan view of the container for the inner package showing a ier employed with the external yarns;

FIG. 8 is a View of delivery rolls along the line 8-8 of FIG. 5 but with parts of the yarn broken away; and

FIG. 9 is a View of the delivery rolls along the line 9-9 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 3 of the drawings is a continuation of FIG. l and FIG. 5 is a continuation of FIG. 3; the lines A-A in FIGS. l and 2 represent the same plane through the a'pparatus as the lines A-A in FIGS. 3 and 4. Similarly the lines B-B of FIGS. 3 and 4 represent the same plane through the apparatus as the line B-B of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 shows, in part, a pair of yarn plying spindles of the type disclosed in Patent 2,503,242. The operation of such spindles and the related structure of the yarn plying machine are fully disclosed in that patent; therefore it will not be shown or described here except to the extent necessary for an understanding of the instant invention. Reference should be had to that patent for a more complete understanding of the details of Construction `and operation of su-ch machines generally.

Similarly FIG. 5 shows, in part, a precision winding station. This winder conforms generally to that shown in Patent 2,729,051 and therefore it will not be shown or described here except to the extent necessary to describe the instant invention. Reference should be had to that patent for a more complete understanding of the details of construction and operation of such precision winders generally.

FIG. 5 shows only two yarn plying spindles which are disposed at the same side of the machine. The frame members at the left of this figure are shown broken because a commercial frame would have a great many more spindles duplicating the two shown and disposed to the left thereof. Those skilled in the textile art will also understand that a desirable commercial frame will have the spindles appearing at the front of the frame duplicated at the back of the frame in the manner shown in Patents 2,503,242 and 2,729,051. The additional spindles at the front of the frame, and the spindles at the back of the frame, will not be referred to hereinafter except as may be necessary to a complete understanding of this invention.

FIG. l shows a multiple end beam and apparatus to support it. A table-like member has its top 10 supported on end frame Il, il" reinforced by cross braces l2, 12. Top 10 carries two upstanding side members 13, 13 which are adapted to receive and to support rotatably a multiple end beam 14 by means of a bar 1S extending through the multiple end beam and resting in semi-circular notches cut from the upper surface of each of side members 13, 13'.

A plurality of yarns, designated generally by Y at this point, are led downwardly and laterally away from beam 14 and through pigtail guides 16 carried by the table top 10. From the guides 16 the yarns are led to the left as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 and over a rotatable roller 17 in a Warp-like sheet of closely spaced single yarns. Roller 17 is journaled in a frame 18 xe-d to top 10.

It will be apparent from FIG. 2 that half of the yarns on beam 14 are led to the front o-f the table top l0, and the remainder of the yarns, designated here generally as Y', are advanced to the back of table top 10 where they pass through pigtail guides 16' before advancing over roller 17 and toward the back of the plying machine. As pointed out hereinabove the spindles at the back of the machine function substantially identically with those at the front of the machine, and accordingly the yarns Y will be handled substantially identically with the yarns Y. Therefore the yarns Y' will "not be further referred to hereinafter, but the manner mounted on shafts 21, 22 respectively which are journaled in side plates 23, 29. Shafts 21 and 22 are geared together by meshing7 gears 24 and 25 fixed to their respective shafts so that rolls 19 and 20 rotate together. Rolls 19 and 20 are braked by a brake which comprises brake drum 26, fixed to shaft 22, and a brake band 27 that is wrapped partially about the brake drum 26 and is fixed at one end to stud 27 on side plate 23. A weight 28 hangs from the free end of brake band 27. The rollers 19 and 20 can be driven by the yarns Y as the yarns are pulled about these rolls by apparatus yet to be described, and the rollers are braked to resist this rotation and thus to tension the yarns as the yarns advance.

The yarns Y are divided into two groups when they leave roll as appears from FIG. 3. A irst group 60 includes the yarns 61, 61', 61", etc. The second group 40 includes the yarns 41, 41', 41", etc. The yarns from `group 60 leave the surface of roll 20 rst and pass upwardly through eyes in a stationary guide 62. The yarns 'in group 40 continue in contact with the surface of the roll 20 for a little distance farther and then leave roll 20 to pass downwardly to and over a fixed guide bar 42 from which they will advance through eyes in stationary guide 43 and to the yarn plying spindles as external yarns.

The yarns in the first group 60 leave the eyes in stationary guide l62 and pass in the form of a web under a guide bar 63 carried at one end of a crank 64 which is iixed at the end of a rotatable shaft 65 journaled in side plates 23, 29. After passing under guide bar 63 the yarns in group 60 pass over a guide bar 66 carried by cantilever arms 67, 68 and to and through eyes in a stationary guide 69.

Referring now to FIG. 5, two yarn plying spindles and two single end yarn package winding stations are shown in front elevation. Both the several yarn plying spindles yand the several winding stations used on the frame are substantially identical, and therefore only one of each will be described, but it will be understood that corresponding parts will be found at each yarn plying spindle and single end package winding station. In the apparatus of this invention, a yarn plying spindle, designated generally at 99, and a single end package winding station, designated generally at 80, are associated with each other.

As heretofore explained, the yarns from the multiple end beam are divided into the two groups 40 and 60. A rst yarn 41 from group 40 is led to pigtail guide 44 carried by face plate 45 of the yarn plying machine, and thence it is directed to a pair of metering rolls 46, 47. Yarn 41 is wrapped back and forth several times around the metering rolls 46, 47 (see FIG. 9) and thence it is led under a rubber covered presser roll 48 and partially around this roll to be directed to a pigtail guide 49 fastened to a bar 49 mounted on the frame cross piece 50 of the yarn plying machine.

Roll 48 is carried at the end of arm 51 which in turn is pivoted on shaft 52 and is urged by spring 53 into engagement with driven metering roll 46 so that yarn 41 is nipped by rolls 46 and 43 to be advanced thereby at a predetermined linear rate of speed, and all of the yarns in group 40 may be consumed at substantially a uniform rate.

Referring next to FIGS. 8 and 9, it will be seen that yarn 41 passes several times around rolls 46, 47 being aesee 4 always trained on cylindrical portion 110 at roll 46 of greatest diameter, and is nipped by metering roll 46 and presser roll 48.

From pigtail guide 49 yarn 41 passes upwardly between two adjacent yarn plying spindles 99, 99 and rearwardly, as seen in FIG. 5, to a pigtail guide 54 which is supported from shaft 154. From guide 54 yarn 41 then proceeds to the right to another pigtail guide 55, also carried on shaft 154, which is positioned above the center of the yarn plying spindle. From this pigtail guide 55 the yarn passes downwardly through the eye of a flier 56 rotatably supported on the cover S7 of pot 58 that is hinged at one side of pot 58 to close the same. Pot 58 encloses the inner singleV end passage 59 of the yarn plying spindle. From the guide eye of the flier 56 the yarn passes downwardly, in a balloon, about the inner package 59 and through an eye in the disk 140 fastened to the driven spindle 141 of the yarn plying machine to be rotated therewith. It will be understood that rotation of the disk 140 causes yarn 41 to balloon about pot 58 and such rotation rotates iiier guide 56 in turn. The usual magnets 200, 201 are provided to prevent rotation of the structure supported on the rotating spindle and within the balloon. From disk 140 yarn 41 passes inwardly into the center of spindle 141 to the plying point located Within this spindle.

Flier 56 and dislf` 140 are used to form and control the size of the balloon about package 59 and its appurtenant structure. The method and apparatus for controlling the size of a balloon using the flier 56 and dis-k 140 is described and claimed in my copending patent application entitled Method and Apparatus for Practicing the Same, Serial No. 766,419, led concurrently herewith; said application is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.

The yarn 142 from the inner package 59 is led through a guide 143 above the axis of package 59, then to one side of cover 57, down one side of pot 58 and out through a guide eye in the bottom of pot 58 and to a tensioner 244 and thence to a pair of metering rolls 145, 146, the latter of which is driven. Yarn 142 is wrapped back and forth several times around these metering rolls, and thence is led inwardly to the center of rotating spindle 141 and to the plying point of this spindle to be plied into a two ply yarn with yarn 41 by rotation of the spindle. A presser roll 147 is provided to press against driven metering roll 146 and hold yarn 142 in driving relation therewith to be advanced as roll 146 is rotated.

The two ply yarn 100 after it leaves the spindle 141 advances about a roller 101 mounted on the frame beneath spindle 141, and then to metering roll 46 to be advanced thereby at a predetermined rate of speed. Ply yarn 100 then advances from metering roll 46 to guides 103, 104, and thence to a guide (such as the guide shown at 182 in FIG. 3 of Patent 2,729,051) held adjacent the package 104 to be Wound in a precision wound package as disclosed in Patent 2,729,051.

The shaft 10S which carries the speed control drum 106 of the precision Winder of my earlier patent is journaled adjacent side frame 144 of the yarn plying machine, and carries on its external end the sprocket wheel 10t7 heretofore described: Shaft 105 is driven by a motor (not shown) at the left-hand side of the frame as seen in FIG. 5, and the drive of shaft is controlled by the ply yarn of a spindle (not shown) of the yarn plying frame as disclosed `in my precision Winder patent referred to above.

The metering roll 46 is of novel construction and will be described more fully hereinafter. This metering roll and the method of metering strands using it is described kand claimed in my copending application Serial No. 766,425, led concurrently herewith and entitled, Apparatus and Method.

Metering roll 46 has a delivery groove 107, of a depth such that while ply yarn 100 is in this groove it is not gripped in the nip of rolls 46 and 48. Groove 107 is terminated at one end by a 45 angle conical shoulder 108 extending between the base 109 of groove 107 and the cylindrical surface 110 of roll 46. Groove 107 is terminated at its other end by a right angle shoulder 111. To one side of this groove 107, roll 46 has a shallow groove 111 of a depth such that the ply yarn 100 when resting therein projects outwardly of the cylindrical surface 110 to be pinched between presser roll 48 and a surface of this groove 111.

Ply yarn 100 is wrapped several times about roll 46 in the groove 107, thence it passes to and partially about idler roll 47 and returns to the shallow groove 111 in which it passes partially around roll 46 and under roll 48 to return to idler roll 47 from which it advances to guide 103.

It will he noted that at the point where yarn 41 passes around groove 107, the diameter of cylindrical base 109 of the groove 107 is less than the diameter of the cylindrical surface 110. Consequently a greater length of single yarn 41 is fed into the balloon area than the ply yarn that is pulled away from the plying point. This diderence is equal to the contraction which takes place when two yarns are plied together. The drive of two ply yarnV 100 which occurs at the shallow groove 111 holds the ply yarn in frictional driving engagement with surface 109 of groove 107, so ply yarn 100 is advanced by surface 109 as metering roll 46 rotates. By adding or removing wraps of ply yarn 100 on groove 107 the tension in the ballooning yarn can be altered as desired.

In summary, a yarn 41 from the first group of yarns 40 is led about the external metering rolls 46, 47, adjusted to deliver the yarn to a plying point at the same linear rate as that at which metering rolls 145, 146 deliver yarn 142 to the plying point. Yarn 41 is then led to pigtail guide 55 positioned above spindle 141, and from the guide 55 the yarn advances to rotating iiier guide 56 and thence in a balloon about the internal package 59 and through an opening near the edge of driven disk 140. From disk 140, yarn 41 advances into the spindle 141 and to the plying point where yarns 41 and 142 are plied into two ply yarn. The finished two ply yarn 100 then passes from the spindle 141 about metering roll 46 and is finally wound into a package 104.

While yarn 41 is advancing to the plying point, yarn 61 from the first group of yarn 60 is advanced to a winding station designated generally at 80 that is disposed intermediate and above two yarn plying spindles. Yarn 61 after it leaves the eyelet in stationary guide 69 passes through an eyelet 83 in frame cross number 82 and then passes upwardly into the groove of a traverse 84 of winding station l80. Traverse 84 is mounted on a rotatable shaft 85 extending across the front of the frame.

As best shown in Fig. 6 a shaft 88 projects radially from and is rotatably mounted, by means of a bracket 87, on a second shaft 86 which extends parallel with shaft 85. Shaft 88, which projects forwardly of the frame, terminates in a knuckle 89 above traverse 84. A stub shaft 90, which is adapted to receive the paper tube 91 for a yarn package, projects from knuckle 89 at right angles to shaft 88 and parallel to and above shaft 8S. A weight 92 on arm 88 presses the paper tube into frictional engagement with traverse 84 on shaft 85, so that as traverse 84 is rotated yarn `61 will be pulled from the beam and wound into a package 93 on paper tube 91 by rotation of shaft 85 and traverse 84. Package 93 is suitable for use as an internal package 59 of the plying machine.

Shaft 85 is journaled in an arm 94 on the yarn plying frame, and carries a traverse (84, S4', etc.) at each winding station of the frame. At the left-hand end of the frame (not shown) shaft 85 carries a sprocket wheel about which a chain is trained that in turn is driven from the output shaft of a motor through a sprocket wheel carried on the motor shaft. Shaft 85 is rotated to drive traverse 84 at a fixed speed relative to metering roll 46,

so yarn 61 is wound into a package at substantially the' same linear speed at which yarn 41 is plied into ply yarn.`

Hence, each yarn in the two groups 40, 60 are pulled forward at substantially the same speed as every other yarn in the two groups.

It will be apparent from the description thus far given of the winding station that tube 91 and package 93 are driven by frictional engagement with rotating traverse 84. Yarn 61 is traversed on package 93 by running in the groove shown cut in the surface of traverse 84. 4If package 93 does not slip on traverse 84, yor if it does but the rate of slippage is constant, traverse 84 will tend to lay the yarn in the same position on package 93 on succeeding wraps. This is called webbing, and is undesirable. In this device apparatus is provided to vary the rate of rotation of the package 93 and traverse 84 to break the web.

Guide bar 66 and guide bar 63 are designed to vary the tension in the yarns in group 60 and thereby to vary the rate of rotation of the yarn packages, such as that shown at 93, wound from the individual yarns in group 68 rela tive to a driving traverse, such as that shown at 84, to shift the positionof one wrap on the package axially slightly from the position fof the underlying wrap on the package.

Guide bar 66 is mounted out of line between bar 63 and the eyes in guide 69 and is designed to rotate through a small arc about a center in rod 70. To this end cantilever arms 67, 68 are fixed at one end to guide bar 66 and at their other end they are journaled on rod 70 which is bolted to end plates 23 and 29. A tie bolt 71 joins the arms 67, 68 to each other midway between their ends. A coil spring I72 is coiled around, and has its inner end attached to, the peripheral surface of a disk 73 which in turn is fixed to the rod 70 to rotate therewith. The other end of coil spring 72 is bolted at 72 to arm 67. Coil spring 72 is wound such that it tends to rotate the arms 67, 68 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 3 about pivot rod 70; tension on the yarns in group 60 causes them to urge rod 66 in a counter-clockwise direction about rod 70. Rod 66 thus moves to adjust to the tension in the yarns 61, 61', 61", etc.

A chain 75 is trained on a sprocket wheel 74 fixed to shaft 65, and the chain is driven from sprocket wheel 76 on the output shaft of speed changer 77. Sprocket wheel 78 on the input shaft of the speed changer 77 is drifven by chain 79 from a sprocket wheel 107 xed to the driving shaft 105 of the windup control for the plied yarn package. The drive to shaft 105 is continuous, and in this way shaft 65 is rotated to carry guide rod 63 on a circular path about shaft 65. Consequently during op.

eration of the device the tension on the yarns in group 60 will constantly vary as the shaft 65 rotates and the slippage between package 93 and traverse 84 will constantly vary. In this way the web that would otherwise be formed on package 93 at the winding station by a -fxed traverse speed in conjunction with a fixed package surface speed is broken.

A second spindle 99 is shown in the drawing which functions in the same way as spindle 99 to ply yarn 41 into two ply yarn with a yarn from an internal package. A second winding station is disposed intermediate spindle 100' and a spindle to its left (not shown) and functions to wind the yarn 61 into a single end package suitable for use as an internal package. Similarly yarns 41" and 61 would advance to further yarn plying forming spindles and winding stations respectively. I

The invention has been described in conjunction with a single spindle of a yarn plying frame, and but two spindles have been shown. A commercial frame might consist of 56 yarn plying spindles (28 on each side of the frame), and a 112' end beam would be creeled to supply such a frame. A winding station would be provided for each spindle of the yarn plying machine. One-half the ends from the beam would be used for the external yarns,

with one yarn provided for each of the 56 spindles. The other half of the ends from the beam would be advanced to 56 winding stations. Single end internal packages will be provided initially for each yarn plying spindle.

In operation the yarn plying machine and the winders will be driven simultaneously, so ply yarn will be formed from the external yarns from the beam and from the internal packages within the balloons, and the remaining yarns from the beam will be wound into single end packages simultaneously. When the yarn is nearly exhausted from the internal packages, the yarn plying machine and Winder may be stopped, and the nearly empty tube carrying the remainder of the yarn of the internal package removed. Package 93 is rotated to the front of the yarn plying machine about knuckle 89, removed from the stub shaft 9G and creeled in pot 58. The tube originally removed from pot 58 is next creeled on stub shaft 90, the ends are retied and the machine is restarted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In the manufacture of ply yarn from the yarns on a multiple end beam, the method which comprises advancing the yarns from said beam in two groups, advancing each yarn in a yiirst of said groups in a rotating balloon about a yarn package and to a plying point, advancing the yarns from the yarn packages within the rotating balloons to said plying points, plying said yarns at plying point into two ply yarn, and winding each yarn from the second of said groups into a single end yarn package suitable for use within said balloon.

2. In the manufacture of ply yarn from the yarns on a multiple end beam, the method which comprises advancing the yarns from said beam in two groups, advancing each yarn in a first of said groups in a rotating balloon about a yarn package and to a plying point, advancing the yarns from the yarn packages within the rotating balloons to said plying points at the same linear rate of speed as said ballooning yarns are advanced to said plying points, plying said yarns at the plying point into ply yarn, and winding each yarn from the second of said groups into a single end yarn package at substantially the same linear rate of speed as said ballooning yarn is advanced to said plying point.

3. The method in accordance with claim 2 wherein cach of the yarns from both of said groups is advanced in frictional engagement with the surface of a braked rotatable drum which is driven by advancement of said yarns.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the tension in the yarns from the second of said groups is constantly varied as the yarns are advanced to the winding stations.

5. Apparatus for the manufacture of ply yarn from the yarns on a multiple end beam, comprising a multiple end beam, means for dividing the yarns from this beam into two groups, means for advancing each yarn in a first of said groups in a rotating balloon about a yarn package and to a plying point, means for advancing the yarns from the yarn packages within the rotating balloons to said plying points, means for plying the yarns at the plying point into ply yarn, and means for winding each yarn in the second of said groups into a single end yarn package at the same rate of speed that the yarns in the rst group are advanced to the plying points.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 including means to vary constantly the tension in the yarns in said second group `as they are advanced to the Winding means.

7. Apparatus for manufacturing ply yarn from the yarns on a multiple end beam, comprising ya multiple end beam, a rotatable roll, brake means adapted to oppose rotation of said roll, means for advancing yarns from said beam in frictional driving engagement with said roll, means for separating the yarns from said roll into two groups after they leave said roll, means for advancing eachyarn in a rst of said groups in a rotating balloon about a yarn package and to a plying point at a predetermined rate of speed, means for advancing the yarns from the yarn packages within the rotating balloons to said plying points at substantially said predetermined rate of speed, means for plying the yarns at the plying point into ply yarn, means for advancing each yarn of said second group from said roll to a winding station, and means for winding each yarn of said second group into a single end package at said winding station at substantially said predetermined rate of speed.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 including means intermediate said roll and said winding station for varying constantly the tension in the yarns in said second group.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the yarns are wound into single end packages at said Winding stations by frictional engagement of the yarn package with a rotating drum traverse.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 313,124 Straw Mar. 3, 1885 366,238 Newell July 12, 1887 1,513,583 Conner Oct. 28, 1924 2,503,242 Clarkson Apr. 11, 1950 2,826,035 Cogger Mar. 11, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 168,359 Great Britain Aug. 29, 1921 

